Three-piece can

ABSTRACT

A can for processed or non-processed foods is provided, for use by food companies or others, which is a three-piece can and which has a cylindrical shape. One of the ends is expanded (necked-out), thus top and bottom have different diameters, but within limits not to compromise rolling on flat surfaces and guides minimizing friction between the external part of the cylindrical body with the finish or artwork while rolling. The can may also be stacked, since it is provided with different diameters top and bottom, which fit in when stacked.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/233,201, filed Sep. 15, 2011, which claims priority under 35U.S.C. Section 119 to Brazilian Patent application number MU 9002109-6filed Sep. 17, 2010, the entire contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The object of the present application is to provide a can for processedor non-processed foods, for use by food companies or others. Said canhas an enhanced construction in order to improve its use and efficiencyover existing similar ones.

BACKGROUND

Cans for foods and other uses generally comprise three pieces withwelded cylindrical bodies, seamed by a mechanical process at their upperends by a top and at their lower ends by a bottom of the same shape, arealready known in the state of the art. Said cans may or may not beprovided with rims in the cylindrical body to reinforce it, allowing theuse of thin sheets.

There are two basic types for these cans:

-   -   Three-piece cans with top and bottom of same diameter—These can        are made of welded cylindrical bodies (tubes), which are        calendered and welded into the final diameter of the can, then        receiving conventional processes of flap formation, beading and        closing the top or bottom according to clients' requirements.        One example of this kind of can is seen in FIG. 1 of the state        of the art.    -   Three-piece cans with bigger top and smaller bottom in        diameter—These are made of welded cylindrical bodies (tubes),        calendered and welded in the final diameter of the can, with an        additional process of diameter reduction on one of the ends of        the tube (necking), then followed by conventional processes of        flap formation, beading and closing the smaller diameter bottom,        allowing the stacking of filled cans by the difference between        top and bottom diameters. One example of this kind of can is        shown in FIG. 2 of the state of the art.

With the advent of sterilization in continuous rotating autoclave(cooker cooler), the two kinds of cans mentioned above have shown someunsurmountable inconveniences for their processing:

-   -   Three-piece cans with top and bottom of same diameter—In this        case, the rolling process of cans used in the continuous        rotating autoclave is easily performed, and the body of the cans        (tube) may be previously printed, with no loss in print quality        after the rolling process. However, this solution harms the        correct stacking, since the cans do not fit with each other.    -   Three-piece cans with larger top and smaller bottom in diameter        with diameter reduction at one of the ends of the tube        (necking). These cans have the advantage of being easily        stacked. The neck-in is made on the can by the hanging of one of        the ends of the can whose single objective is to improve        stacking. To prevent the can from rolling around its own axis        due to the big difference between the top and the bottom of the        can, an additional rim (reinforcement) on the body near the        smaller bottom is required, so that the friction during the        process may allow the can to be rolled in the continuous        sterilization system without damaging the body of the can. In        this case, excessive friction damages the artwork, finish and/or        tin from the body of the can at that reinforcement point. Due to        this problem, the can is only labeled afterwards, creating        additional processing steps and lowering process speed.        Furthermore, due to its smaller diameter top, this kind of can        is more difficult to open with conventional can openers because        of the neck formed in the cylindrical body at that point to        fasten the smaller top, which makes the correct placement of the        opener more difficult.

SUMMARY

Bearing the above in mind and in order to overcome the mentionedproblems, the present invention has been developed. It relates to athree-piece can, having a cylindrical shape with a top and a bottom ofdifferent diameters. One of the ends undergoes an expansion process(increase in diameter or necking-out), but within certain limits not tocompromise its rolling on flat guides and surfaces minimizing frictionof the external part of the cylindrical body having a coating or artworkwhile rolling. Said can may also be piled up, since it is provided withtop and bottom of different diameters which fit in when stacked.

This embodiment of the can solves the above inconveniences, since theexpanded cylindrical shape of the assembly allows for appropriateflexibility during the use, meeting various forms of use of stackablecans with the artwork already printed on the cylindrical body,especially in automatic thermal processing equipment of continousrotating type (cooker cooler) where rolling of the can is required. Thecan according to the invention also has the advantage of allowing thefinal user to open the can at either end with a conventional can opener,usually at the cleanest end due to stacking.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To better visualize the present invention, the attached figures arepresented as mere examples, not limiting the present application,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial cross section of a conventional three-piece can withtop and bottom of same diameter;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross section of a conventional three-piece can withtop and bottom of different diameters and reduced diameter at one of theends of the tube (necking);

FIG. 3 is a partial cross section of a can according to the presentinvention, provided with an expansion of its upper part (necked out);

FIG. 4 is a view of a stack of cans of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of a can rolling over a flat surface, showingthe lack of contact between the body of the can (tube) and the surfacedue to the presence of a free space (gap).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The object of the present invention will be disclosed based on the abovelisted figures given as examples, but not limiting the scope ofprotection of the present model, wherein the final can is genericallyindicated as L.

The present invention is directed to a can L, made of a welded body 1,which is initially cylindrical and which subsequently has one of itsedges expanded (necked-out), the body 1 is optionally provided withreinforcement ribs 2 in its body when the metal sheet to form the body 1is thin.

The can L is preferably made of tinplate and/or chrome- plated steel,appropriately smoothed and printed with the artwork defined by the user.The cylindrical body 1 is formed by the conventional process of platecutting, formation of the body, calendering and welding. Initially, thebody 1 is built with the base dimension (smaller), the tube is expandedat one of its ends (necked-out), the flange (flap) is formed andsubsequently the ribs 2 for radial reinforcement of the can L.

Said can L has an upper closing consisting of a conventional oreasy-to-open top 3 and a conventional or easy-to-open bottom 4. Said top3 or bottom 4 is seamed at one of the ends according to the needs of theuser. When seamed, said top 3 and bottom 4 form upper 5 and lower 6 endsthat support the body of the can when it is rolled.

Said ends 3, 4 have different diameters, wherein the difference betweenthem should be comprised within a range between 2 and 6 mm. Saiddifference between diameters defines a range where the difference cannotbe higher than 4 mm to allow the can to roll around its axis withoutdeviation and, at the same time, allow it to be piled up. As an example,the table below shows the ratio between the diameter of the top 3 andbottom 4:

Top (3) Bottom (4) 49 52 57 60 62 65 70 73 80 83 96 99 124 127 152 155

FIG. 3 illustrates a three-piece can in accordance of preset invention.The three-piece can L may also be defined by comprising a cylindricalbody (1), a top (3) and a bottom (4). The cylindrical body (1) is seamedto both top (3) and bottom (4) so forming an upper seam (5) and a lowerseam (6), respectively. Preferentially, top (3) is a usually know aseasy-to-open top.

The cylindrical body (1) comprises a first section having a firstdiameter C, a second expanded section having a second diameter D largerthan first diameter C. As the seam thickness for upper or lower seamsare basically equal to each other, it came out that the total topdiameter B of can L is first diameter C plus twice the seam thickness.In the same sense, the total bottom diameter A of can L is secondexpanded diameter D plus twice the seam thickness. As it will be clearto a technician in the art, the difference between total diameters D andC is equal to the difference between diameters A and B. According topresent invention, first C and second D diameters differs from 2 mm to 4mm. Preferably, second expanded diameter D is 3 mm larger than firstdiameter C.

Also, the first section of cylindrical body (1) is H2 height and thesecond expanded section is H1 height. This way, the total height of thecylindrical body (1) is H1+H2 and the total height of can L is thecylindrical body height (H1+H2) plus twice upper or lower seam height,as upper seam (5) and lower seam (6) are basically equal to each other.

The can is sent to the user with one of the ends (larger or smaller)already seamed according to the client's requirements and/or tooling inthe client's plant to close the cans after product filling.

If the user makes use of continuous rotating equipment (cooker cooler),the roling of the can L without harm to its body 1 is guaranteed by thesupport given by the upper 5 and lower 6 edges, which create a gap asshown in FIG. 5.

The present invention presents several advantages to the conventionalmodels, since the cans may be processed in continuous rotating autoclavesystems (cooker cooler systems), and the cans may be stacked.

In addition, the user will not need tooling adaptations, since theclosing process is conventional and the tops and bottoms used are thosewhich are already abundant on the market.

The proposed can, with said construction, may be made in diverse sizesand capacities to meet different needs of users of this kind ofpackaging.

What is claimed is:
 1. A three-piece can comprising a cylindrical body, a top and a bottom, the cylindrical body being seamed to both top and bottom forming an upper seam and a lower seam respectively, wherein said cylindrical body comprises a first section having a first diameter (C), a second expanded section having a second diameter (D) larger than first diameter (C), said first and second diameters differing by 2 mm to 4 mm, and wherein the upper and bottom seams defining support edges for the can to be rolled on flat surfaces.
 2. The three-piece can of claim 1, wherein second expanded diameter (D) is 3 mm larger than first diameter (C).
 3. The three-piece can of claim 1, wherein the first section of cylindrical body has a first height (H2), the second expanded section has a second height (H1), and wherein the first height (H2) is 5 to 50 times the first height (H1).
 4. The three-piece can of claim 1, wherein the first section of cylindrical body comprises ribs. 